U.S. patent number 5,139,659 [Application Number 07/640,243] was granted by the patent office on 1992-08-18 for aquarium air-lift water pump, aerator, and filter.
Invention is credited to Michael Scott.
United States Patent |
5,139,659 |
Scott |
August 18, 1992 |
Aquarium air-lift water pump, aerator, and filter
Abstract
A combined water pump, aerator, and filter for an aquarium
comprises a central connecting manifold 68, a vertical outer air
tube (26) which extends down into a fish tank (12). Pressurized air
(22) is supplied to the manifold which directs it to the outer
tube. It flows down to the bottom thereof to a bubble reducer (36)
which breaks the air into small bubbles. These travel by gravity up
an inner, water-lift tube (28) with entrained water from the tank,
thereby pumping water from the tank up the inner tube. The
water-lift tube extends up into the manifold and into a turret
(58A) at the top of a replaceable filter cartridge (56) above the
tank; at this point the air and water separate and flow down into
the housing which contains filter media (52, 54). The air exists
via a hole (60) in the side of the cartridge while the water flows
down via gravity through the media which filter it. The filtered
water flows out via holes (62) into the bottom of the housing to a
vertical heater support and outflow tube (16) and back into the
tank where it is heated by a heater (72) in a conventional
manner.
Inventors: |
Scott; Michael (Tucson,
AZ) |
Family
ID: |
24567433 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/640,243 |
Filed: |
January 11, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/167.26;
119/261; 210/221.2; 261/123; 261/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
63/042 (20130101); A01K 63/045 (20130101); A01K
63/047 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
63/04 (20060101); A01K 063/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;210/169,221.1,221.2
;119/5 ;261/77,123 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hruskoci; Peter
Assistant Examiner: Popovics; Robert James
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pressman; David
Claims
I claim:
1. A water conditioner for an aquarium, comprising:
an elongated outer air-supply tube,
an elongated inner water-lift tube mounted within and coaxial to
said outer air-supply tube,
the inner diameter of said outer air-supply tube being greater than
the outer diameter of said inner water-lift tube so as to provide
an air-flow space between said tubes,
said inner water-lift and said outer air-supply tube each having a
bottom end and a top end,
means for mounting said tubes so that they will extend down into
the water of said aquarium when said aquarium is at least partially
filled with water,
means for supplying pressurized air to the top end of said air
supply tube and into said air-flow space so that air will flow down
said air-flow space and out the bottom of said outer air-supply
tube,
said bottom end of said outer air-supply tube extending below said
bottom of said inner water-lift tube so that air flowing out said
bottom end of said air-supply tube will flow upward by gravity into
said inner water-lift tube,
a filter unit attached to and extending at least partially around
said top ends of said air-supply and said inner water-lift tubes
and above the water in said aquarium when said aquarium is at least
partially filled with water, said inner water-lift tube extending
above said filter unit, and
means for channeling water flowing from said upper end of said
water-lift tube through said filter unit and then back into said
aquarium.
2. The water conditioner of claim 1 wherein said filter unit is
removable from said tubes, and further including means for stopping
the flow of water from out said upper end of said water-lift tube
when said filter unit is removed from said tubes.
3. The water conditioner of claim 1, further including a manifold
unit connecting said air-supply and inner water-lift tubes to said
filter unit, said manifold unit having an air input connection,
means supplying air from said air input connection to said
air-supply tube, and means for supplying water from said water-lift
tube to said filter unit.
4. The water conditioner of claim 1, further including bubble
reducer means for reducing air bubble sizes, said bubble reducer
means being connected to said bottom end of said air-supply
tube.
5. The water conditioner of claim 1 wherein said filter unit
comprises a housing a filter element within said housing, said
housing being removable from said tubes so that said filter unit
can be replaced easily.
6. The water conditioner of claim 5 wherein said housing of said
filter unit is cylindrical in shape and said tubes extend into a
center of said filter unit.
7. The water conditioner of claim 1 wherein said filter unit is
removable from said tubes, and further including means for stopping
the flow of water from out of said upper end of said water-lift
tube when said filter unit is removed from said tubes, a manifold
unit for connecting said air-supply and inner water-lift tubes to
said filter unit, said manifold unit having an air input
connection, means supplying air from said air input connection to
said air-supply tube, and means for supplying water from said
water-lift tube to said filter unit.
8. The water conditioner of claim 7, further including means for
reducing air bubble sizes, said means for reducing air bubble sizes
being connected to said bottom end of said air-supply tube.
9. The water conditioner of claim 7 wherein said filter unit
comprises a housing and a filter element within said housing, said
housing being removable from said tubes so that said filter unit
can be replaced easily.
10. The water conditioner of claim 9 wherein said housing of said
filter unit is cylindrical in shape and said tubes extend into the
center of said filter unit.
11. A water conditioner for an aquarium, comprising:
a manifold unit having air connection means for receiving
pressurized air,
tube connection means on an underside of said manifold unit for
connection to an air-supply tube and a coaxial water-lift tube,
water outlet means on a top side of said manifold unit for
supplying a water outflow,
said air connection means being connected to said air-supply
tube,
said water outlet means being connected to said water-lift
tube,
an air-supply tube and a coaxial water-lift tube being connected to
said tube connection means on said underside of said manifold unit,
and
filter means mounted on said top side of said manifold unit for
filtering water flowing from said water outlet means, said filter
means being removable from said manifold unit,
said manifold unit containing outflow stoppage means for preventing
an outflow of water from said water outlet means when said filter
unit is removed from said manifold unit, said outflow stoppage
means comprising a passageway from said air connection means to an
outside surface of said manifold unit.
12. The water conditioner of claim 11, further including means for
reducing air bubble sizes, said means for reducing air bubble sizes
being connected to a bottom end of said air-supply tube.
13. The water conditioner of claim 11 wherein said filter means
comprises a housing which is cylindrical in shape and said manifold
unit is mounted below the center of said filter unit.
14. The water conditioner of claim 13 wherein said housing of said
filter means has a filter element within said housing, said housing
having a lid with a turret, and including a central tube extending
from a bottom of said housing into said turret.
15. The water conditioner of claim 14 wherein said housing contains
an aperture for returning water from said filter unit to said
aquarium, said housing containing a lid with a central aperture for
said turret.
16. A water conditioner for an aquarium, comprising:
a manifold unit having air connection means for receiving
pressurized air,
tube connection means on an underside of said manifold unit for
connection to an air-supply tube and a coaxial water-lift tube,
water outlet means on a top side of said manifold unit for
supplying a water outflow,
said air connection means being connected to said air-supply tube
and said water outlet means being connected to said water-lift
tube,
an air-supply tube and a coaxial water-lift tube being connected to
said tube connection means on said underside of said manifold
unit,
filter means mounted on said top side of said manifold unit for
filtering water flowing from said water outlet means, and
means for reducing air bubble sizes, said means for reducing air
bubble sizes being connected to a bottom end of said air-supply
tube.
17. The water conditioner of claim 16 wherein said manifold unit
contains outflow stoppage means for preventing an outflow of water
from said water outlet means when said filter unit is removed from
said manifold unit.
18. The water conditioner of claim 17 wherein said outflow stoppage
means comprises a passageway from said air connection means to an
outside surface of said manifold unit.
19. The water conditioner of claim 16, further including a housing
for containing said manifold unit and said filter means, said
housing containing an aperture for returning water from said filter
means to said aquarium.
20. The water conditioner of claim 19 wherein said housing has a
lid with a turret, and including a central tube extending from a
bottom of said housing into said turret.
Description
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to aquariums, specifically to a
water pump, aerator, and filter for an aquarium.
2. Description of Prior Art
A home or other aquarium comprises a transparent tank of water and
one or more fish in the water for observation by the owner of the
aquarium. The water must be artificially conditioned for the
survival of the fish. Specifically, it must be cleaned or changed
periodically to remove contaminants caused by waste products of the
fish. Also (unless it is very shallow with few fish) it must be
aerated and (unless it has only goldfish) it must be heated.
Hertofore many systems have been devised for conditioning (heating,
aerating, and cleaning [filtering]) the water in an aquarium, but
each has one or more significant drawbacks.
One such system, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,372 to Fonseca (1981)
shows an aquarium where the water is pumped from the bottom up
through the filter cartridge. This leaves the waste matter, which
has been filtered out of the water, on the lower side of the
filter, allowing it to remain in and thus continue to contaminate
the water. Also the waste falls back into the water and
recontaminates it when the pump is turned off. In addition, it is
awkward and difficult to remove the contaminated filter for
changing Further, when it is removed, the water in the filter
spills and leaks, recontaminating the water, or requiring the owner
to hold a dish (an awkward operation) to catch the runoff. Finally,
the Fonseca device requires that a relatively large tube extend
down into the fish bowl to accommodate the filter cartridge,
thereby precluding use of the device in small jars, glasses,
etc.
Bennett, Bliss, and New, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,555 (1975), show a
filter comprising a plurality of replaceable annular filter
cartridges in a dual-walled, submerged container. This device has
many of the disadvantages of Fonseca's, and, in addition, is
awkward and expensive to make and change.
Goldman, Goldman, and DiMarchi, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,263 (1979),
show a heated water circulator, but it does not filter the water.
Thus it must be used with an additional, separate filter, with all
of its attendant disadvantages.
Gorsky, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,035 (1979), shows an aerator
comprising an air pump, an in-the-tank aerator, and an
out-of-the-tank filter. This device is awkward to install because
of its many parts. Also it cannot be used with very small tanks or
small jars and glasses because of its out-of-the-tank filter.
Gilkey and Gilkey, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,980 (1989), show a
self-contained, in-the-tank filter and pump where the filtering
medium is gravel, followed by charcoal and fibrous material. This
system requires that a motor be placed in the tank, precluding its
use in very small tanks or small jars and glasses. Also the motor
creates a shock hazard.
Dockery, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,090 (1980), shows an air lift pump
which forces water to flow through a filter at the bottom of an
aquarium. As such, this device has many of the disadvantages of
Fonseca's.
Isaacson and Herrin, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,026 (1974), shows an
air-lift pump which draws water through an external filter bowl. It
cannot be used with very small tanks or small jars and glasses
because of its out-of-the-tank filter.
Conn and Cohen, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,719 (1977), show a water
circulation and filter system in which an water-lift pump comprises
an air tube which extends down through an water-lift tube. Air
supplied to the air tube creates bubbles at the bottom of the
water-lift tube. These bubbles rise, entraining water, and thereby
pumping water up through and to the top of the water-lift where it
passes an ultraviolet sterilizer and then goes back down into the
tank via a filter. This arrangement is disadvantageous the filter
is complicated to change and disassemble. Also the pumping action
will continue when the filter is changed, tending to direct water
at the person doing the changing, thereby making such changing
messy and more time consuming. Further the air tube must be passed
through the water-lift tube, thereby providing an insecure
attachment so that the air tube tends to pull up and out of the
water-lift tube, which tends to stop the pumping action. Finally
this system requires that a bulb be placed in the tank, creating a
shock hazard.
Lambo, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,514 (1974), shows a heating element
arranged in a filter outlet passage. This device requires a large
surface area and thus cannot be used in small aquariums.
Sesholtz, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,376 (1970), shows a filter
arrangement with a heater disposed in the filter discharge passage.
His device is very complicated to manufacture, having many parts,
and requiring a large-volume tank.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to
provide an aquarium water conditioner which obviates the
disadvantages of prior conditioners, specifically which is compact
in size, enabling it to be used in small jars and glasses, which
does not leave filtered waste matter in the water, which can be
changed easily and conveniently, which does not recontaminate the
water when the pump is turned off, which has a disposable filter
cartridge which can be changed without leaking, which can be made
relatively economically and simply, which has a self-contained
filter, which can be installed easily, and which does not require
that a motor or bulb be placed in the tank.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a
consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying
drawings.
DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a water conditioner
according to my invention installed in a large hexagonal tank.
FIG. 2 is a similar view, but where the tank is a small, circular
one.
FIG. 3 is a view, partly in section, of the aerator and manifold
portion of the conditioner.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a bubble reducer portion of the
device of FIG. 3, taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the entire conditioner installed in a
tank.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the top of the aerator and filter
portion of the conditioner.
DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS
______________________________________ 10 water conditioner 12 fish
tank 14 body of 10 16 heater support and outflow tube 17 water
return holes 18 water drawing tube assembly 20 power cord 22 air
tube 24 small container 26 outer (air) tube 28 water-lift tube 30
annular air space 32 space 34 holes 36 air bubble reducer 38 arrows
40 area at top of 10 42 lid of 10 44 flange 46 lid of tank 48
indentation 50 access hole 51 air plug 52 cotton 54 charcoal 56
disposable filter cartridge 58 lid of 56 58A turret 58B central
hole 60 air hole 62 water holes 64 air passageway 66 nipple 68
central connecting manifold 70 space 71 air passageway 72 heater
element and 74 water drawing extension thermostat 76 fish screen
______________________________________
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION--FIGS. 1, 2, AND 5
As shown in FIG. 1, a water conditioner 10 comprising an aerator,
filter, and heater according to the invention is installed in a
fish tank 12. Tank 12 is a conventional hexagonal tank with a
transparent top and sides. Conditioner 10 is mounted in a circular
aperture (not shown) in the tank's top 46, which supports
conditioner 10 above the water.
Conditioner 10 comprises (FIG. 5) a body portion 14, a heater
support and outflow tube 16, a central connecting manifold 68, and
a water-drawing tube assembly 18. Conditioner 10 operates by
drawing water from tank 12 into the bottom of assembly 18 up
through manifold 68. In body 14 the water is aerated and filtered
to provide fresh water which exits via outflow tube 16 on the
underside of body portion 14 back into the tank. A heater element
and thermostat 72 heat the tank water in a conventional manner.
Conditioner 10 is connected to a conventional air pump (not shown)
which supplies pressurized air via a conventional plastic tube
22.
Conditioner 10 may be installed in any size or type of home
tank.
In FIG. 2 it is shown installed at the top of a small, round
container 24 of the type that is used for heating beverages.
Conditioner 10 fits onto the top of and extends into container
24.
DESCRIPTION--FIGS. 3-4--AIR-LIFT WATER PUMP
Body portion 14 and water-drawing assembly 18 of conditioner 10 are
shown in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. As indicated in FIGS. 3 and
5, assembly 18 comprises an outer, air-supply tube 26 and an inner
water-lift tube 28, a bubble reducer 36, an extension tube 74, and
a fish screen 76. Tube 26 has a larger inside diameter than the
outside diameter of tube 28 so as to provide an annular air space
30 between the two tubes. The bottom end of outer tube 26 is open
and is connected to the outside of bubble reducer 36. The bottom
end of inner tube 28 is also open and is connected to the inside of
bubble reducer 36. Space 30 between tubes 28 and 36 is smooth,
except for the bottom portion where bubble reducer 36 (FIG. 4)
creates a series of narrow, vertical, triangular channels between
inner tube 28 and the inside of the bubble reducer.
Water drawing extension tube 74 telescopes over bubble reducer 36
and the outside of air supply tube 26. Fish screen 76 telescopes
over extension tube 74 (FIG. 5).
The conditioner may be made in any size desired, but one suitable
model for small aquaria was 18 cm high from the bottom of assembly
18 to the top of central connecting manifold 68, with all other
parts sized proportionately as in FIG. 5.
OPERATION--FIGS. 3-5
The conditioner operates generally as follows: Air supplied by air
tube 22 (FIG. 3) flows through central connecting manifold 68 in
body 10 (detailed below) and then into space 30 between tubes 26
and 28, as indicated by the downward arrows in space 30. At the
bottom of space 30, bubble reducer 36 divides the downwardly
flowing vertical airstream from an annular cross section to a
plurality of individual narrow triangular streams.
At the bottom, the airstreams leave the bubble reducer and flow
into space 32, which is filled with water from the tank. The
airstreams create numerous bubbles in space 32. Since these bubbles
are lighter than the water, they immediately rise into inner tube
28, which is also filled with water. When rising, they entrain and
carry water upwardly, through tube 28, and then up through manifold
68, as indicated by the arrows within tube 28. Thus a continuous
supply of air into tube 22 will cause a continuous flow of water
upwardly through tube 28 and manifold 68. This upwardly flowing
water comes from the water in the tank, as indicated by arrows 38.
At the top of body 14 the water separates from the air and is
filtered; it then flows back into the tank, as described infra.
DESCRIPTION--FIG. 5--FILTER
As indicated above, air pumped into manifold 68 and down through
space 30 between tubes 26 and 28 is reduced to small bubbles in
bubble reducer 36. Then it is forced up through inner tube 28 and
manifold 68 where it entrains and carries up water. Thus a
continuous supply of aerated water flows up through tube 28 and
manifold 68 to an area 40 (FIG. 5) at the top of conditioner
10.
Conditioner 10 comprises a housing, circular in shape, with a lid
42 which covers body 14. Housing 10 contains a circular flange or
rim 44 which is inserted into a lid 46 of the tank. Housing 10 has
an indentation 48 to allow room for air-supply tube 22 and a heater
power cord 20. Within housing 10 is a disposable filter cartridge
56 which has its own housing. Cartridge 56 is also circular and
contains the filtering media, a layer of cotton or fiberglass 52
below a layer of charcoal granules 54. The cartridge contains its
own sealed lid 58, an air hole 60 on its upper side, and a series
of water holes 62 in its bottom. Lid 58 has a percolator top or
turret 58A which encloses space 40 and which extends up through a
central hole 58B in the top of lid 42.
Outer, air-supply tube 26 is joined to the bottom of housing 10
through manifold 68, and via an internal air passageway 64, is
connected to a nipple 66 (FIG. 6) to which the end of tube 22 is
attached.
The top of manifold 68 (FIG. 5) is connected to the bottom of
cartridge 56. As shown by arrows 38, water is drawn up through
manifold 68 in housing 10 and cartridge 56 to above lid 42, into
space 40, just below the top of turret 58A.
Cartridge 56 is supported by manifold 68 which is attached to the
bottom of housing 10 to connect water-drawing tube assembly 18 and
form a water-return space 70. Manifold 68 contains a small
connecting hole for water-lift tube 28 and a larger connecting hole
for outside air tube 26. Water lift tube 28 is about 1.3 cm longer
than tube 26 and extends up into central connecting manifold 68 to
provide a mechanical connection. Space 70 is below holes 62 in the
bottom of cartridge 56. Manifold 68 contains an air relief
passageway 71 which is connected to air passageway 64 and extends
up to an air plug 51 within cartridge 56.
Heater support and outflow tube 16 extends down from housing 10, on
one side of assembly 18. Tube 16 contains a conventional heater
element and thermostat 72 (not detailed) which are connected to a
power cord 20. The bottom of tube 16 contains a plurality of water
return holes 17.
OPERATION--FIG. 5
The filtering system operates as follows: Bubble-impregnated water
in inner tube 28 is continuously lifted up to space 40 in turret
58A. From there it falls down into cartridge 56. At the top of
cartridge 56 most of the air separates from the water to form a
layer of air. This air-water separation action can be seen through
turret 58A and resembles percolation. The air leaves cartridge 56
via vent 60 and goes into the space between cartridge 56 and
housing 10. From there it leaves housing 10 via opening 58B. The
aerated water flows through filter layers 54-52 where it is
filtered and then it flows out through holes 62 in the bottom of
cartridge 56. Then the water flows out from tube 16 to be returned
to the tank.
EXPLODED VIEW AND FILTER REPLACEMENT--FIG. 6
Details of the parts of body 14 water conditioner and their
assembly are clearly illustrated in the exploded view of FIG.
6.
Disposable filter cartridge 56 can be replaced while the unit is
running. The user first lifts off lid 42 to expose cartridge 56.
Lid 42 is held to the rest of body 14 by a slight friction fit.
Then the user lifts up entire cartridge 56, including its lid 58.
Housing 56 is held to manifold 68 by another slight friction fit.
The user then turns the entire cartridge unside down so it will not
leak.
When cartridge 56 is so lifted, plug 51 will open the end of
passageway 71 so that air entering nipple 66 will leave by
passageway 71, where it has little resistance, rather than going
down passageway 64 and annular air space 30, where it has a
relatively great resistance. Since no air will flow down space 30,
the water-lift action will cease and no water will be pumped up
tube 28. Thus the user will not risk getting wet when changing the
filter cartridge.
Cartridge 56 is now removed and discarded and a new cartridge is
inserted in its stead. The new cartridge will again plug the open
end of passageway 71, thereby forcing air to go back down space 30
where it will restore the bubbling and pumping action again.
SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
Accordingly the reader will see that, according to the invention, I
have provided a water conditioner which obviates all of the
aforenoted disadvantages of prior conditioners. It can be made
compact in size so that it can be used in small jars and glasses,
as well as in large tanks. It does not leave filtered waste matter
standing in the water, but rather provides its filter media
entirely above the water. Its filter media can be changed easily
and conveniently. If its pump is turned off, it will not allow
dirty water to recontaminate the water. Its filter can be changed
without leakage of water. It can be made relatively economically
and simply, it has a self-contained disposable filter cartridge
which can be installed easily, and it does not require that a motor
or bulb be placed in the tank. The filter cartridge can be changed
while the unit is running and provides a secure connection for the
air tube.
While the above description contains many specificities, these
should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the
invention, but as exemplifications of the presently-preferred
embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are
possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the
housings can be made of other shapes, such as rectangular, lid 42
can be omitted, the heater can be omitted or made separate,
passageway 71 can be omitted, outside housing 14 can be replaced by
suitable channels or troughs, the conditioner can be made integral
with the tank or its top, the disposable cartridge can have a
nonsealed lid so as to make it a permanent housing, in which case
its filter media (rather than the entire cartridge) can be changed,
etc. The filter media can be made of materials other than cotton,
fiberglass, and/or charcoal.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the
examples given.
* * * * *